LCP: Yes, it’s about time someone documented the Old Weird Britain (to paraphrase Greil Marcus) and its influence. Matters haven’t been helped by the persistent philistinism of the music press which for years regarded anything folk-related as a joke.

I think its not folk that they have a problem with, but ENGLISH folk, or anything leaning towards it. It was always ok to be into Appalachian folk or Delta Blues or Irish music (the Pogues!), but English folk is too close to home, too parochial, too geography- teacher- does- morris dancing.
Obviously, these stereotypes are way out, and just serve to deny us our true culture. Its really good that its making the connection with British visionary tradition, which has been buried for too long, at least in popular cultural circles.If the pop kids dont know about William Blake, how are we going to build our new Jerusalem?